T helper 1 type cytokines polymorphisms: association with susceptibility to Behçet’s disease

The pathogenesis of Behçet’s disease (BD) is not fully understood and immunological abnormalities and genetic factors have been investigated. Because serum concentrations of mainly T helper 1 (Th1) type cells have been reported to be increased in BD, we aimed to investigate whether certain cytokine polymorphisms might represent a risk factor for developing BD. We genotyped 80 patients with BD and 105 healthy controls for interleukin (IL)-1 α (T/C ?889), IL-1 β (C/T ?511, T/C +3962), IL-1R (C/T pst11970), IL-1RA (T/C mspa111100), IL-2 (T/G ?330), IL-12 (C/A ?1188), interferon (IFN)-γ (A/T UTR 5644), and TNF-α (G/A ?238) polymorphisms. Analyses of cytokine polymorphisms were performed with PCR-SSP. The genotype and allele frequencies of the patients and controls were compared and the association between the polymorphisms of the cytokines with the clinical findings was investigated. Genotype distribution showed significant differences between the patients and the controls for the IL-1 α ?889, IL-1 β ?511, IL-1 β +3962, IL-1R, IL-12, IFN- γ, and TNF-α cytokines. We didn’t observe significant difference in genotypic frequencies of IL-1RA and IL-2 in our study. Comparison of the IL-1 α ?889, IL 1 β ?511, and IL 1 β +3962 genotype frequencies showed significant increase in CC genotype between the patients and the controls. The individuals with IL-1R TT polymorphism had a higher risk for BD compared to patients with CT/CC polymorphism. Comparison of IL-12, IFN- γ, and TNF-α, genotype frequencies showed significant increase in CA, AA, and AA genotypes between the patients and controls, respectively. The frequencies of genotypes according to the clinical features of the patients with BD did not show a significant difference (p?>?0.05). Our study suggests that development of BD might be determined by various cytokine gene polymorphisms. However, further studies on larger numbers of cases are needed before definite conclusions can be drawn.     

Total autologous Ross procedure in a child with aortic root abscess

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Endocarditis with aortic root abscess is one of the most complicated surgical problems. METHODS: An 8-year-old girl presented with dyspnea, high fever, and fatigue. She had stenotic bicuspid aortic valve with endocarditis and aortic root abscess. Ross procedure was performed with fresh autologous pericardial tube and pericardial monocusp valve. Right internal mammary artery to right coronary artery bypass was also done due to destroyed right coronary artery ostium. RESULTS: Four years after the operation she is in excellent clinical condition without medications. Echocardiography reveals mild autograft regurgitation and mildly stenotic right ventricular outflow tract. CONCLUSIONS: If homografts are not available, total reconstruction of RVOT with autologous fresh pericardium may offer reasonable early and mid-term results especially when active endocarditis and aortic root abscess is involved.     

Prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata by detection of rhizomelic shortening and bilateral cataracts

Antenatal sonographic diagnosis of rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata depends on recognization of the combination of rhizomelic bone shortening and epiphyseal stippling. This is the only report of prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of bilateral cataracts in a fetus with rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (type 1). Also, this is the first report of severe rhizomelic limb shortening, and bilateral cataracts prior to the recognization of epiphyseal stippling.     

Histopathologic examination for Helicobacter pylori as a possible etiopathogenic factor in laryngeal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the presence of Helicobacter pylori in laryngeal cancer specimens to reveal whether or not this is a risk factor in the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. METHODS: Sixty-nine total laryngectomy specimens with the pathologic diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma and 30 laryngeal tissue samples that had been taken for the investigation of nonneoplastic (polyp, nodule) diseases were studied. Specimens of both tumor and control groups were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and modified Giemsa stains, and then they were examined under a light microscope. RESULTS: In both groups, H. pylori could not be found in any of the cases. CONCLUSION: The histologic examination of our series did not reveal any clue related to the possible etiologic association between H. pylori and squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.     

The Protective Effect of Chrysin Against Cisplatin İnduced Ototoxicity in Rats

Ototoxicity is a common side effect of cisplatin chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective effect of chrysin against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Thirty-four adult female Wistar albino rats were separated into four groups: a cisplatin group (Group A), with cisplatin administered to ten rats once daily for three consecutive days at doses of 8 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally (i.p.); a cisplatin plus chrysin group (Group B), with 8 mg/kg of cisplatin administered i.p. daily to ten rats for three consecutive days and 25 mg/kg of chrysin administered via oral gavage in a corn oil for 5 days: a chrysin group (Group C), with 25 mg/kg of chrysin administered via oral gavage in corn oil for 5 days to seven rats; and a control group (Group D), with 5 ml/kg of corn oil administered to seven rats via oral gavage for 5 days. Distortion product otoacoustic emission measurements were performed in the same ear of the rats under general anesthesia at baseline and on the first and fifth days after drug administration. No significant differences were noted between the measurements either in the chrysin group or in the control group. In the cisplatin group, there was a significant worsening of hearing compared to baseline and the measurements on the fifth day at all frequencies. In the statistical analysis, a statistically significant difference was observed at 5039, 6351, 8003, and 10078 Hz frequencies between the measurements on the first and fifth days. In the cisplatin plus chrysin group, there were statistically significant differences at frequencies of 2,003 and 5,039 Hz between the measurements at baseline and on the fifth day, at 3,175 and 5,039 Hz between the measurements on the first and fifth days, and at 8,003 and 100,078 Hz between the measurements at baseline and on the first day. According to these results, this study demonstrates that cisplatin-related ototoxicity can be prevented in rats by the administration of chrysin.     

Computer simulation of trabecular remodeling using a simplified structural model

A simplified three-dimensional simulation of trabecular bone remodeling has been developed. The model utilizes 441 planar structural units to represent approximately 50 mm³ of initial bone volume with 199 basic multicellular units (BMUs). The simulation takes into account trabecular perforation in the structural model. The cases of male bone remodeling with no menopause and female bone remodeling with menopause are examined from the period of simulated age 25–80 years. Menopause is arbitrarily started at age 45 and extends for 7.5 years. Zero-, first-, and second-order BMU activation responses are employed to examine how the bone would be affected by the method of increase of BMU activation during menopause. At age 80, the female bone remodeling simulation produced a bone volume loss of approximately 49% for all three activation responses. This compared to a 38% bone volume loss for the case of no menopause. For the menopause simulations, an average of about 40% of the total bone loss was due to perforation.     

Successful Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrial Flutter Causing Hemodynamic Instability in a Patient with Recent Myocardial Infarction

Atrial flutter (AFL) is a common arrhythmia which may decrease cardiac output and may cause embolic events. Direct current (DC) cardioversion, medical cardioversion and radiofrequency (RF) ablation are therapeutic options, but over all RF ablation therapy has the longest event free period. Although development of AFL after myocardial infarction is quite common it may spontaneously recover or results in atrial fibrillation. Herein we report a patient with medical and electrical cardioversion resistant AFL which developed in the early post-myocardial infarction period causing hemodynamic instability, who was successfully treated with RF catheter ablation.